The Portugese Water Dog
Interest in this breed has increased dramatically with the purchase of a six month old puppy by the president of the U.SA.. They make great pets and love to play with both humans and other dogs. However, they do require a lot of attention and exercise.
Although their name comes from the country of Portugal, this centuries old breed is estimated to have arrived in Portugal from either of two possible routes: In the 5th century from the Visigoths or in the 8th century from the Berbers and Moors.
A hard-working and focused water dog, its ancestry probably has some Poodle in the bloodline (as you can judge from its appearance). In its native land, the breed is known as “Cao de Agua”, which translates into “water dog”. They come in two varieties: long-haired and curly-coated.
Once the breed had established itself in Portugal, its usefulness as a water dog became increasingly popular. They served couriers from boats to other boats and to the shoreline. They were excellent retrievers when fisherman needed them to swim after nets or other equipment to bring the items back in. The dogs would also work alongside trawler crews when fishing the Iceland waters.
Unfortunately, with the wonderful inventions of technology many old ways of doing things cease to exist. The same was true for the Portuguese Water Dog. During the early part of the 20th century, new fishing methods were born and less use was needed of the dogs. They had all but become extinct until the work of one man saved the breed. His name was Dr. Vasco Bensuade.
Dr. Bensuade was a rich shipping magnate who was so enthusiastic about the breed that he heavily promoted it in various parts of the world. He reorganized the breed club and the Portuguese Water Dog could be seen in show rings as it made its way to the United States during the 1950s, gaining AKC recognition in 1984.
These dogs are probably one of the most energetic and lively breeds alive today. They have a seemingly endless amount of energy to swim, run, play, and retrieve. Therefore it should be no surprise that daily exercise is an absolute must for a Portuguese Water Dog to be happy. If kept cooped up inside then the dog can become frustrated and destructive.
They have a moderate tolerance for both hot and cold climates but should live inside with the family as they cannot live life to its fullest without constant human contact. Grooming the Portuguese Water Dog calls for a thorough brushing every other day, with professional clipping about once each month.
The average life span of the Portuguese Water Dog is between ten and fourteen years. The only major health concern that runs common in the breed is PRA. Minor issues that may come up include hair loss, CHD, GM1 storage disease, Addison’s, distichiasis, and juvenile cardiomyopathy. Veterinarians suggest that the breed get tested for DNA for GM1, eye and hip problems.
Leave a Reply
-
Syndicate
Subscribe to this site's RSS feed.